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Salisbury Star PO Box 1000 Seaford, DE 19973-1000
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Vol. 3 No. 5 August 2016
Wicomico Creekwatchers keep an eye on Lower Shore’s valuable resource By Al Higgins
STUDENT-ATHLETE- Mardela shortstop Sydney Goertzen prepares to make a play during a varsity softball game. Goertzen excels in the classroom as well as on the field and wants to be an orthodontist and own her own business. Page 24
Community Profiles
Local businesses and towns work to serve their communities and provide great customer service. Pages 4-13
DISTRICT CHAMPS- The West Salisbury Junior League and Delmar Major League all-star baseball teams win Maryland District 8 championships. Pages 18-19 A VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS- “Cousin Gail” steps down after 25 years of coaching girls’ basketball at area school. Page 31
The Wicomico River is an important part of the Lower Shore. Aside from its economic importance with barges traveling its length nearly every day, the river is aesthetically beautiful and environmentally important. The river faces many environmental problems, particularly pollutants. Whenever it rains those pollutants that gather along our roadways are washed into the river; poorly drained septic systems and waste water treatment plants may leach human waste into the river. And then there is the Susquehanna River. Traveling from upstate New York and through Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna brings pollutants of all types and deposits them into the Chesapeake Bay. During times of rising tides some of these pollutants may find their way into the Wicomico River. Fortunately, there are groups of folks who do a good job of keeping an eye on the Wicomico River. One such group is the Wicomico Creekwatchers. The all-volunteer group of concerned citizens tests the river’s waters, and some of the ponds that drain directly into the river, every two weeks from March to November.
INDEX Avery Hall column..................... 16 Bulletin Board.......................22-23 Business Digest........................ 14 Business Directory...............28-29 Church........................................ 30 Delegate’s Report........................ 2 Education .............................24-26 Final Word.................................. 31 Health......................................... 27 Maryland Capital Investment... 16 Real Estate................................. 17 Salisbury University.................. 25 Shorebirds Spotlight................. 21 Sports....................................18-21 The Great Outdoors.................. 21 Veronica Correa......................... 31
Salisbury University students test water samples.
Wicomico Creekwatchers is comprised of 44 volunteers, seven Salisbury University students and five individuals in leadership roles. Participants log essential information at each of the test sites including air and water temperatures, weather conditions, water clarity and level of the tides. At each site a water sample is taken, which is delivered to a site in Salisbury and refrigerated. At 6 p.m. that day the water samples are picked up and transported to a lab at Salisbury University. The water is tested for chlorophyll a, Ph, nitrogen and phosphates. Additional testing for total nitrogen and total phosphorous analysis is conducted at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory. Bacteria monitoring of fecal entero-
cocci (generally accepted as an indicator of waterborne pathogens and thus risk to human health) is conducted at eight of the sampling sites. All data is recorded and presented to the public in an annual report. Wicomico Creekwatchers is affiliated with the Wicomico Environmental Trust (WET). This group has become increasingly active in overseeing the activities of Creekwatchers and has contributed funding for the program. Individuals who are interested in helping with this program, either as a regular sampler or as a back-up, can contact Dr. Keota Silaphone at 410548-2192. The sampling is easy and rewarding. You will be making a real contribution toward the health of our river.
Nanticoke Road closed for repairs following heavy rains Creekwatch volunteer Wynona Hucutt prepares to test the waters.
Due to heavy rains, State Highway Administration closed Nanticoke Road (Maryland Route 349) between Rockawalkin Road and Oliver Drive indefinitely for repairs. Detours are posted at Rockawalkin Road and Crooked Oak Lane. For more information, call the State Highway Administration Media Information Line at 410-545-0303.